The Executive Philosophy of the University of Missouri states:" The basic principle that will be followed in leading and managing the university is that authority and accountability will be linked. Accountability in management will be coupled with the authority necessary for effective decision making, and those persons with designated authority will be held accountable for the effectiveness of their decisions." The University of Missouri Board of Curators Collected Rules and Regulations, Chapter 20.030".

The Board of Curators
By mandate of the Missouri Constitution, the governance of the University of Missouri System rests with a Board of Curators, made up of nine persons appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the state Senate. Each member of the board is appointed for a six-year term, with three members being appointed every two years. Anyone appointed must be a citizen of the United States and a resident of Missouri for two years immediately before appointment. Not more than five curators can belong to one political party, and only one person can be appointed to the board from any one congressional district (see the Collected Rules and Regulations, Chapter10) (See the UM System Organizational Chart).

The President
The President of the University of Missouri System, who is directly responsible to the Board of Curators, serves as the chief executive and academic officer of the four-campus system. At regular meetings of the Board, the President reports on the progress, conditions, and needs of the University System and recommends measures needed to promote the institution's interests. The President has the right to preside at any meeting of a campus faculty, to vote at all meetings of the campus faculty or any divisional faculty, and to appoint all System committees, unless otherwise provided for by the Board of Curators. Moreover, the President delegates authority for specific programs and functions to the campus Chancellors, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Executive Vice President, the Vice President for University Outreach, or other designated officers (Collected Rules and Regulations, Section 20.020, 20.030, and 320.020).

The Vice President for Academic Affairs
The Vice President for Academic Affairs, under the direction of the President, provides coordination, direction, and communication in all areas of academic planning and programs; reviews proposed new academic programs; monitors the review of existing academic programs; monitors academic personnel decisions and promotes the development of academic staff; administers policies related to research; and coordinates affirmative action policies in the academic area. At any given time, the UM-Academic Affairs homepage provides links to sites for information and input on issues that are under active consideration to recent IFC and taskforce reports and policy changes.

Other UM System Officers

Director of University Relations is a source of public information concerning the activities of the Board of Curators and the System administration; provides information and services to external and internal audiences through print, radio, television and the internet, as well as through community and media presentations; coordinates internal and external information efforts with counterpart offices on the four campuses and in University Outreach and Extension; carries out special projects for the Board of Curators and the UM System administration.

The Chancellors are the chief executive officers, both academic and administrative, on each campus. They report directly to the President of the University and serve on the Cabinet. Since each campus maintains a great deal of individual autonomy, the Chancellors are responsible for the establishment of campus priorities in budgeting and program implementation and take a major role in representing the campuses before the central administration and the public (Collected Rules and Regulations, Section 20.030, 20.070, and 320.030).

The Cabinet consists of the President, the three Vice Presidents, the Chancellors of the four campuses, the General Counsel (General Officers), and the Chair of the Intercampus Faculty Council. This group advises the President on internal and external issues affecting the university and approves a variety of administrative policies, some of which may also require approval of the Board (Collected Rules and Regulations, Section 20.080).

The Intercampus Faculty Council(IFC)
The Intercampus Faculty Council (IFC) serves as a liaison committee between the President and his staff, and the faculties of the four campuses. It meets regularly with the President to discuss issues of common concern among the campus faculties. The IFC elects a chairperson who presides at its meetings and has customary powers of the chairperson of a committee. The President, or any member of the council, may request that items be placed on the agenda. The IFC, on its own initiative or at the request of the President, may form committees as needed. In appropriate cases, faculty who are not members of the council but who have special knowledge or skills may be appointed to these committees (Collected Rules and Regulations, Section 20.100).

The Collected Rules and Regulations of the University of Missouri System consist of policies, guidelines, and official rules and regulations for the system, as approved by the Board of Curators or mandated by Executive Order of the President. The Collected Rules and Regulations do not constitute the only policies, guidelines, and regulations of the University. Others are collected the Human Resources Policy Manual, the Business Policy Manual and others which reside with the individual campuses and their administrative units. However, all other policies are subject to the authority of the Collected Rules and Regulations.

The Coordinating Board for Higher Education(CBHE) was established in 1974 to govern the Missouri Department of Higher Education. While the CBHE has no governance responsibilities for the University of Missouri System, which submits its own budget request to the Governor and the Legislature, the University works in cooperation with the CBHE in carrying out that board's statutory responsibilities. The appointment of the nine-member board and the terms of officers are similar to the UM System Board of Curators. The CBHE is responsible for reviewing new degree programs in all public institutions of higher education in the State, establishing guidelines for appropriations requests to the Legislature, making recommendations about budget requests for public institutions, facilitating transfer of students between state institutions, and collecting data for higher education planning purposes.